Vladislav Tretiak speaks about the death of Ken Dryden

Vladislav Tretiak, the President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, has spoken about the death of legendary Canadian ice hockey goalkeeper Ken Dryden:

"The hockey family has suffered a great loss. Ken Dryden was an incredible athlete, one of the best Canadian goalkeepers of all time. Ken was also a wonderful person, one of the most prominent representatives of that particular Canadian generation which had great respect for our hockey traditions, our country and our people.

"We had known each other since 1969, when we first competed against each other on the ice at international level. Even then, it was already clear that he was a goalkeeper with a bright future ahead of him. We can see that Dryden really indeed did go on to embark on a hugely successful career with six Stanley Cups and five Vezina trophies to his name, while representing Canada in some of the country's most momentous matches which included the 1972 Super Series. When we met, we often recalled the game between the Montreal Canadiens and CSKA Moscow which took place on New Year's Eve in 1975, with us defending the goals of our respective nations. Dryden and I didn't just respect each other; we were great friends over several decades. When I visited Canada, I regularly met up with Ken and spoke about many different topics. Dryden was a real intellectual in life! Educated, with a broad outlook and a wide range of interests. Alongside sport, you could talk to him about global topics, how the world was changing and how people lived in different countries.

"It's worth pointing out that Dryden was a successful goalkeeper largely due to his high intellect. He was a superb reader of the game, possessing the ability to predict how events would unfold, always thinking a step ahead and understanding where the shot would be unleashed from. Tall, big goalkeepers often rely on size, but Ken used a clever, thoughtful approach.

"Ken always had warmed feelings towards our hockey, our nation. He visited the Izvestia Prize competition in 1983, and there's even a photo from the Luzhniki Arena with me in the jersey of the Soviet national team and Ken, a retired player, in a formal suit. Ken always enjoyed visiting Russia, and he was also happy to invite me to visit his country of Canada. One of my most memorable trips took place in 2007, when I attended the ceremony of raising Dryden's banner in Montreal. I even gave a speech at the Montreal Forum, where Ken had shone for the Canadiens across almost a decade of representing the club. Furthermore, it was the stadium which saw us play against each other in the unforgettable opening game of the 1972 Super Series.

"Following the completion of his sporting career, Dryden remained a man focused on creation. He strove hard to make sure that life in Canada would improve. In order to assist his fellow Canadian citizens, he embarked on an active political career and was appointed the Minister of Social Development. Such aspirations once again proved just how good of a person Ken was. He was a kind, smart and responsive man, always open to new ideas. And that makes it even tougher to realise that such a fantastic hockey player and friend is no longer with us."